The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1887-10-19
THE G.. A. R. MEETING.
Proceedings of the National
Encampment at St. Louis.
Position of the Organization on
Pension Laws Defined.

The National Encampment Of the Grand
Army of the Republic assembled in st.
Louis on Thursday morning The report
of committees was resumed, the first in order
being the Committee on Pensions. They
relate their efforts to procure liberal legisla-
ton from Congress and the fate of the De-
pendent Pension Bill The committee were
at Washington during the debates in Congress
over the bill.
After the veto of the Dependent Pension
bill by the President the Committee prepared
q new bill for presentation at the
next Congress This bill makes pro-
vision for pensions to all veterans
who are or who may hereafter become un-
able to earn their own livelihood; for a
in their own right; for an increase
of the present pittance to minor chill
dren, and for fathers or mothers from
any date Of dependence. Such law, the
committee says, would at once remove fully
1900 veterans from the public almshouses
where they now rest making them pen
sioners instead of paupers, provide pen
upon private charity, and put into the
general pension laws, for the first
time, the recognition of the principle that pen
sions may be granted to survivors OF the
late war without absolute proof Of disability
arising from the service, proof almost lmpos-
sible to procure after the lapse of more than
twenty years The bill is similar in general
principle to that vetoed, but the objection
pauper clause is omitted, making this dis
ability, and not dependent, bill.
The result of submitting this bill to the
comrades of the Grand Army of the Republic
shows that whatever legislation some of the
comrades desire, they are practically
,fo,y, al in,
this bill. Whatever else may be desira-
BILE, the committee knows from the ex-
perience Of five years that any additional
legislation is only to be secured inch by inch
after most persistent effort. The committee
therefore recommend the continuance OF
earnest effort in favor Of the following:
1.-THE bill prepared by this committee
granting pensions to all veterans now dis
abled or in need, to mothers and fathers from
date Of dependence; continuance of pensions
to widows in their own right and an increase
for minor children.
"All Of the recommendations for increase
and equalization Of pensions for special disa-
bilities nsade in his recent report by Pension
Commissioner Black.
"a pension of sl2 per month to all widows
of honorably discharged soldiers and sailors
of the late war.
Increased pensions for the severer disabil-
titles, substantially as presented in the bill
prepared by the United States Manned Vet
erans' League.
Pensions for the survivors of rebel pris-
ons, substantially as presented in the bill of
the National Association of Prisoners Of War.
Increased pensions for loss Of hearing or
"a re-enactment of the arrear law, an
equitable equalization of bounties.
1.-THE same pension for the widow Of the
representative volunteer soldier of the Union
Army-John A. Logan-as is paid to the
widows Of those typical regulars, Thomas,
the Rock of Chickamauga, and Hancock, al
ways the Superb"
The Committee on the Annual Address of
the Commander Chief indorsed the ad-
dress and congratulated Commander in Chief
Fairchild and the Grand Army of the
Republic upon his administration of the
past year, stating that all his official
acts and every sentiment contained
mittee, and they believe, the approval Of the
comrades. They recommended the appoint
ment Of Past -Commander-in in Chief Robert
B. Beath, as historian OF the order, in
dorsed the recommendation of a perma-
nent national headquarters, and approved
the suggestion that the General Govern
ment include in the next decennial census an
enumeration of the Union soldiers and sail
ors of the late war who may be living in
1890. The report was unanimously adopted,
with three cheers for Fairchild.
close or the Encampmenr
At the final meeting of the Grand Army
National Encampment on FRIDAY the
Committee on Resolutions presented majority
vice Pension bill The majority of the COM
mittee reported against the measure and the
minority Of five Ia committee of one
from each department) reported for it.
Resolutions offered by Mr.. Vandervoort cen-
suring President Cleveland for vetolng the
Dependent Pension bill were defeated, and
the majority report Of the committee was
adopted by vote Of SiS to 1T3.
The following were the mountainous 1or
Commander Chief for the ensuing year:
General Slocum, of New York: General T.
Rea, of Minnesota; General T. Anthony,
General D. P. Grier.
Slocum received 153, Anthony GO, Grier Is,
and Rea 294. Sherman received one, and
Warner of Missouri one. Rea was declared
elected He was escorted to the platform by
the defeated candidates Anthony and Grier,
and returned thanks to the encampment Gen.
Rea is Pennsylvania by birth, enlisted IN
an Ohio regiment at the outbreak of the war
and was promoted several times for gallantry
in the field, being finally breveted Major.
He has been q most active organizer and
member Of the G.. A. r. and has twice been
elected Senior Vice-Commander-in-C Chief.
He is now on the bench in Minnesota.
Nelson Cole, of Missouri, was elected Senior
Vice. Commander, and John G. Linahan, of
New Hampshire, Junior Vice Commander.
General Lawrence Donahue was elected Sur
Seon General The Rev. Edward Anderson
was elected Chaplain-in Chief The officers
of the encampment were then duly installed,
and the National Encampment came to an
end. Next years Grand Encampment will
be held at Columbus, Ohio.
The banquet given at the Lindell Hotel in
the evening to the delegates of the National
Encampment was brilliant affair. Covers
were laid for $50, the War Governors being
among the guests The responses to toasts
were made by General Lew Wallace, General
John NJ Palmer, Hannibal Hanlin. Cover
nor Curtin, Corporal Tanner, General c. H.
Grosvenor, Bishop Fallows, General Fair.
child, Judge Rea and others.
LATER NEWS.